'Idol' shoots down dreams with insults
THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES By CHHUN SUN
People like to watch other people’s lives get dismantled. Especially
when it’s televised. Call it the I-can-laugh-at-you-because-I-don’t-have-as-much-courage-as-you
syndrome.
Case in point: “American Idol,” the reality show that has
thousands of people chasing one dream – to earn a recording contract.
In its fourth season, “American Idol” is very unlikely to
get canceled this season or next season or in this millennium, because
people will always continue to find delight in another’s torture.
And the viewers aren’t the only one to blame.
It’s the darned producers.
The audition process isn’t what it’s made out to be on TV.
Not all of the world’s population showcases their flair in front
of the judges, including the naughty British boy Simon Cowell. There are
preliminary auditions in front of unknown judges, and then the worst and
the best are chosen to be on camera. No in-betweens.
That’s like having the worst and best third grade spellers in a
spelling contest just to see how big the gap there is between the two.
Take, for example, the WB’s “Superstar USA,” which had
seemingly good-hearted individuals chasing an unattainable dream due to
their lack of vocal artistry. They were broadcast to the masses to be
laughed at, unknowingly.
Remember the childhood affirmation “we’re laughing with you,
not at you”? That now is a lie.
Imagine if we did the same to those third grade spellers who haven’t
yet developed good spelling skills. What if they were televised and were
made to believe they were good spellers when, frankly, they couldn’t
spell I.
That’s the point. These are people with a dream. And what they get
in return, including the decent ones with decent voices, is a diatribe
of unnecessary and unconstructive criticism.
But it’s entertainment. And not all entertainment provided by “American
Idol” is bad.
Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino all achieved the ultimate
prize. And William Hung, the fateful UC Berkeley boy who sang Ricky Martin’s
“She Bangs” while moving his hips in near-epileptic convulsions,
received his own prize – the biggest loser award. Now he’s
catering to people’s indulgence.
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